Facts

Location

• It lies on the continent of North America.
• It stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
• Canada is north of the 49th parallel of latitude.
• The 49th parallel was chosen as a border from the Great Lakes to the west coast.

Land and Water

• It has the longest coastline in the world
• It is surrounded by oceans on three sides - Pacific on west, Atlantic on east, Arctic on north.
• It has about 1/4th of all the fresh water in the world.
• Glaciers shaped the land and created many lakes.
• The Mackenzie River is Canada’s longest river.
• Ships sail inland on the St. Lawrence River.
• Nearly half of Canada is covered by Forests, as it houses 1/10th of world’s forests.
• Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory is Canada's tallest peak at 5,959 meters.

Geography

• Canada has 6 main geographical regions including: Appalachian Highland, Canadian Shield, Arctic, Lowlands, Interior Plains, Cordillera

History

• The first people were the Aboriginal people.
• In the 1500s, explorers and settlers from Western Europe arrived.
• Jacques Cartier, a French explorer, named Canada in 1535.
• The name "Canada" comes from the Huron and Iroquois word "Kanata" meaning "village".
• Canada became a country on July 1st, 1867.
• The first provinces were Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec.
• Sir John A. Macdonald was the first prime minister of Canada.

Resources

• Canada's renewable resources include forests, plants, animals, and fish.
• Renewable resources can be replaced by nature.
• Canada has 10% of the world's forests.
• Minerals, metal, natural gas, and oil are some of Canada's nonrenewable resources.
• Hydroelectric power is sold to the US.
• Canada is one of the world’s largest mining nations.
• Over 60 minerals and metals are produced in Canada.
• Canada is world’s 3rd largest diamond producing nation in the world.
• Canada is the world's leader in the production of potash and uranium.
• There are 42 national parks in Canada.
• The largest park in Canada is Wood Buffalo National Park, in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It is home of the world's largest bison herd and the only nesting site of the endangered whooping crane.

Industries

• Automobile
• Auto Parts
• Pulp and Paper
• Iron and Steel
• Machinery and equipment manufacturing
• Mining
• Fuel
• Forestry
• Agriculture products

Exports

• Automobile Vehicles and parts
• Machinery and equipments
• Oil
• Natural Gas
• Metals
• Forest
• Farm Products

Transportation

• The main highway system is called the Trans-Canada Highway.
• It goes from St. John's NFLD to Victoria, B.C.
• The highway is 7 604 kms long, and is the longest national highway in the world.
• The Dempster Highway in the Yukon territory is the northernmost highway.
• The major ports are Vancouver, Churchill, Montreal, Quebec City, Halifax and St. John's.
• The St. Lawrence Seaway allows ocean-going ships to sail inland.
• The Seaway has 26 locks and five canals.
• The two main freight railway systems are the Canadian National and the Canadian Pacific Railway.
• In 1937 Bombardier invented the first snowmobile.

Government

• Democratic system of government
• Parliament of Canada is in Ottawa, Ontario
• Parliament consists of House of Commons (elected) and Senate (appointed)
• Prime Minister - Stephen Harper (leader of the Conservative Party)
• Governor General of Canada - Michaëlle Jean

Sports

• The native people of Canada invented the game of lacrosse.
• Lacrosse is the national summer sport of Canada.
• Ice hockey is the winter national sport of Canada.
• Five pin bowling was invented by T.E. Ryan of Toronto in 1909.
• Basketball was invented by James Naismith in 1891.

Facts

• Second largest country in the world (Russian Federation is the largest)
• Ten provinces and three territories (capital cities are in brackets).
• Population 33,212,696 (July 2008 est.)
• Capital city of Canada - Ottawa (Ontario)
• Leader of Canada - Prime Minister Stephen Harper
• Emblem - maple leaf
• Flag - red and white with a red maple leaf
• Canada's birthday is on the first of July.
• Animal - the beaver
• Motto - "From sea to sea"
• National anthem - "O Canada"
• RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) the national police force
• There are 6 time zones